Walsall writer and storyteller Cath Edwards is delighted that she has been chosen to perform her new show, Shakespeare: Tattle and Tales, at the second Midlands Fringe in Wolverhampton this July.
The show, says Cath, was a lot of fun to create. She explores the little-known stories and Warwickshire legends that surround the younger Shakespeare and old Stratford-upon-Avon. ‘One story,’ she says, ‘involves a challenge thrown down by some youths in a neighbouring town. The challenge was foolishly taken up by Will and his friends, and the disastrous result was, for decades, recorded on Ordnance Survey maps.’ She adds, ‘I managed to track down one of those maps and the audience can see for themselves!’
Cath has unearthed many such fascinating stories. As a traditional storyteller, Cath has a particular love of folklore and folk tales, and when she was writing her book Warwickshire Folk Tales, she began coming across local legends about Shakespeare. ‘It was perfect material for a storytelling performance,’ she says, ‘so that’s what I’ve done! I first performed it as part of a Shakespeare celebration in Gloucester and I was delighted with the audience response, so I’m very happy to bring it to Wolverhampton.’ Cath is nowplanning a book of her ‘alternative’ Shakespeare tales.
For a little extra fun, Cath has a short quiz for the audience: Shakespeare or Country and Western? She reads lines from the plays, and lines from country songs, and challenges the audience to tell which is which. ‘There’s a Dolly Parton song,’ she says, ‘which a lot of people think is from one of the tragedies! It probably says a lot for Miss Parton!’
Cath has been a fan of the bard for a long time. She says, ‘I have always loved Shakespeare, ever since a school trip to Stratford-upon-Avon when I was a child.’ She adds, ‘We saw The Winter’s Tale, and there was one very realistic scene where a bear came on stage in a thunderstorm. My friend and I were scared to death and held each other’s hands for support! I didn’t know that a play, which after all is just people acting on a stage, could affect me so much. From then on, I was hooked.’
All her life, Cath has kept her love of both the written and the spoken word, and she is now proud to be Chair of Walsall Writers’ Circle. She is the author of several books, including West Midlands Folk Tales and Warwickshire Folk Tales, both with The History Press.
Cath is performing at K teas Cakes, 4, St Georges Parade, WV2 1BA at 4pm on Friday 17th July.
https://www.midlandsfringe.co.uk/days/17thjuly2026
Her website is www.storytelling forall.co.uk.
